MDNN: Flu Season, Surgical Technology, Fibromyalgia and ADHD, Medtronic's FDA Approval

Hi, I’m Kevin Kunzmann, and this is MD Magazine News Network - it’s clinical news for connected physicians.

This flu season has been only “relatively bad,” says National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Dr. Anthony Fauci. While mainstream news sources continue to sensationalize the flu season, Fauci and other health officials are not willing to call this more than what it is: a bad, but not superlatively bad flu season. This year, children aged 0—4 years have been hospitalized at a rate of 16 per 100,000—the highest of the age groups. However, that rate is well below the 2014 rate of 33 per 100,000 and the 2012 rate of 25.7 per 100,000. Dr. Richard Webby, of the department of infectious diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, called this flu season “nothing out of the ordinary.”

In a health tech environment increasingly populated with startups, 2 experienced firms are teaming up to distribute cutting-edge surgical technology. Stryker, the manufacturer of healthcare technologies including surgical devices and robots, is partnering with 3D Systems to distribute their virtual surgical planning (VSP) technology. It allows surgeons to build full, patient-personalized anatomical models of a target area prior to craniomaxillofacial surgeries. The models include guides and templates, and can be rendered with a 3D printer to allow surgeons to study a procedure before they ever enter the operating room.

Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome have been found to have high rates of concomitant adult ADHD. A study from the University of Pretoria, in South Africa, examined 123 patients being treated for the chronic pain condition, finding that 44.7% of the patients screened positive for ADHD. Those with both fibromyalgia and ADHD were found to score higher on the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, indicating that they were affected more by FMS than those without ADHD. Additionally, levels of anxiety and cognitive impairment were markedly higher in the group with both conditions than those with just FMS. Lead author Dr. Roland van Rensburg called for a comprehensive clinical assessment to be included in a future study to confirm the link between the conditions.

This week, the FDA announced the approval of Medtronic’s Riptide Aspiration System, designed to retrieve thrombus and restore blood flow to the brain during acute ischemic stroke. The complete Riptide System includes Medtronic’s Arc Catheter and the Riptide Aspiration Tubing, Pump, and Collection Canister. According to the American Heart Association, stroke is the 5^th leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the US. The newly approved system is intended for use within 8 hours of onset in patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary to intracranial large vessel occlusive disease, including those that are ineligible for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator therapy.

For these stories and more, visit us at mdmag.com. I’m Kevin Kunzmann for MDNN, thank for you watching.